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Soundcheck / July 25, 2008

Soundcheck

Friday, July 25, 2008
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  • Katy
    (katy.perry/flickr)

    Crowning 2008's Song of the Summer

    Every summer, one song seems to blast from every beach radio, car stereo, and block-party boombox around the city. Blender editor at large Lizzy Goodman joins us to crown this summer’s biggest jam. Also: Singer-songwriter Brendan James went from a check-out clerk at Urban Outfitters to a favorite of Carly Simon and other stars. He joins us to perform live.

    Cast your vote for the song of the summer - and watch clips of the contenders here.

Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll

Every year, popular and critical opinion somehow converge to settle on a "summer song." In 2007, it was Rihanna's "Umbrella." The year before, it was "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. The practice stretches back to the very dawn of pop radio. Yet defining the essence of a "summer song" is a bit elusive. We enlist the help of Blender editor at large Lizzy Goodman -- and of our Soundcheck listeners, in an online poll.

Cast your vote: Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll 2008

Can't decide? Check out audio and video clips of the contestants here.

Our blog: John Schaefer asks what makes a good summer song,

50 Years of Summer Songs

Brendan James Live

Just a few years ago, singer-songwriter Brendan James was a struggling artist without a record deal or even a piano. But while working nights as a clerk at Urban Outfitters, he began sneaking into hotels like The Plaza, where he'd begin playing the piano - sometimes for 3 or 4 hours at a time. Now, James has a major-label record deal and friends in high places. He joins us to tell the rest of his story - and perform live.

Brendan James' MySpace page

Introducing our Video Contest

Soundcheck

John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.

In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles

Soundcheck

The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.

In Studio: Angel Deradoorian

Soundcheck

The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.

Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico

Soundcheck

Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.

The Decemberists

In Studio: The Decemberists

The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.

headphone

Sound Off

Soundcheck

Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.